The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has ordered all government appointees seeking to contest for party executive positions at the constituency, regional or national levels to resign at least six months before the party’s internal elections.
The directive affects ministers and deputy ministers, chief executive officers, managing directors and their deputies, analogous officers, as well as metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs). However, board chairpersons and board members are exempt from the new rule.
The decision was announced on Thursday, January 29, 2026, by the General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, as part of a broader internal reorganisation aimed at promoting fairness, discipline and integrity within the party.
Mr Kwetey explained that the directive is intended to end what he described as “greed” and to ensure a level playing field for all party members aspiring to leadership positions.
“Those intending to contest at the constituency level shall resign by April 2026, those intending to contest at the regional level shall resign by May 2026, and those intending to contest at the national level shall resign by June 2026,” he stated.
He stressed that government appointees must make a clear choice between serving in government and seeking party office.
“It is an issue of reducing the level of greed. If you want to work for the party, you leave your position in government. You can’t have one leg here and another there,” Mr Kwetey said.
According to him, the directive will be strictly enforced without exception, warning that no individual will be shielded from its application.
The General Secretary noted that the NDC’s internal reorganisation process requires discipline, integrity, fairness and collective responsibility, urging party officials at all levels to uphold the party’s core values.
“I therefore call on all party officials from the branch to the national level to apply themselves diligently, act transparently and uphold the values of the National Democratic Congress,” he added.
The party also announced that guidelines and detailed timetables for the conduct of internal elections at all levels have been issued, signalling the start of an intensive reorganisation phase ahead of future political contests.
